Celtic vs Rangers LIVE: Scottish League Cup final result and reaction as Old Firm derby settled on penalties
The Glasgow rivals battled for the first silverware of the season at Hampden Park
Daizen Maeda scored the decisive spot-kick as Celtic emerged 5-4 penalty shoot-out winners over Rangers after a Scottish League Cup final ended 3-3 after extra-time at Hampden Park.
Light Blues wide-man Nadim Baramin opened the scoring in the 41st minute after a mistake by Parkhead left-back Greg Taylor, who made amends in the 56th minute when his drive deflected in off Gers midfielder Nicolas Raskind, whose mistake cost Gers four minutes later as Maeda fired in a second for the Hoops.
The Ibrox side rallied and levelled in the 75th minute through Mohamed Diomande but when Nicolas Kuhn restored Celtic’s lead in the 87th minute the trophy looked Parkhead-bound, only for Gers substitute Danilo to level a minute later and take the game to extra-time.
After no more goals the game went to penalties and Hoops goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel gave Brendan Rodgers’ side the advantage by saving Ridvan Yilmaz’s effort before Maeda beat Jack Butland to take the trophy back to Parkhead.
Despite a valiant effort, it was another Celtic triumph and leaves Philippe Clement without a win in six Old Firm matches, while Celtic moved ahead on the historical trophy count - 119 to 118.
ET HT - Celtic 3-3 Rangers
A couple of late pushes for crosses from Rangers but no real trouble for Schmeichel, or indeed Butland at the other end.
Perhaps the first time since the hour mark or so, when the game kind of drifted and was allowed to see the ball passed around without any deliberate attempt to pile forward.
Half time in extra time, three apiece.
ET 102’ - Celtic 3-3 Rangers
Approaching the interval in extra time and not too many sights of goal since we got back underway, certainly nothing like the goalfest of the second half of 90 minutes.
Dessers’ first action in the final is to clatter Carter-Vickers late and he’s booked before taking a touch.
ET 98’ - Celtic 3-3 Rangers
Celtic just trying to get a bit more control in the game over the last few minutes and Hatate feeds a lovely ball through for Engels who makes a diagonal run into the box - but his first touch is heavy and Butland is able to snare it before the shot comes in. At the other end Tavernier is played into a great area but blazes a cross miles beyond his teammates when composure was required.
Igamane has Been subbed off for Rangers, Cyriel Dessers is on for him.
ET 94’ - Celtic 3-3 Rangers
Scales loses the ball and follows it up by dragging down his man - there was a tug on the shorts and that must be right on the line of being a penalty. Free-kick on the edge of the box is given. Hagi and Cerny are over it...Tavernier takes it instead and whips one over the bar.
Scales was booked for that foul, Igamane gets another now for a late sliding tackle.
ET 91’ - Celtic 3-3 Rangers
Celtic sub, Alex Valle on for Taylor before we get back underway.
Into extra time we go!
FT - Celtic 3-3 Rangers
A succession of crosses and corners for Rangers in the final stages, with Hagi playing a key role in the closing stages, but they can’t quite find a clear sight on goal to clinch it late, late on.
The ref allows one more delivery and then the whistle goes - it’s full time and we’ll have extra time next.
Kuhn thought he’d won it, Danilo dragged it back. What a wild finish to the game!
Full time - extra time to follow
90’+2 - Celtic 3-3 Rangers
Into stoppage time and Celtic pushing on once more. Have they got another goal in them or can Rangers find a way to push on and take the lead again themselves? Carter-Vickers now goes into the book for a strong follow-through on his tackle.
Hagi skips past a tackle and frees Danilo, it comes back to Hagi...blocked behind and a corner for Rangers. It’s cleared, Celtic try to break, Tavernier hauls down his man for another blatant yellow.
GOAL! 88’ - Celtic 3-3 Rangers
Absolutely astonishing! Rangers back on level terms 20 seconds after kick-off!! A delivery from the right is high and central, Danilo - just on the pitch - rises highest and buries a magnificent header past Schmeichel to make it 3-3!
Six minutes added on, Raskin booked for a blatant foul.
GOAL! 86’ - Celtic 3-2 Rangers
Danilo for Bajrami in another Rangers sub. Only five minutes left on the clock but as it stands, he’ll be playing extra time too. Unless...
GOAL! Kuhn to Engels down the right channel, a cut-back straight into the path of Kuhn once more and he absolutely buries his chance, right-footed, past Butland, into the net low and central.
It’s 3-2 to Celtic and with just a few left to play!
82’ - Celtic 2-2 Rangers
Kuhn wins back the ball, dribbles past two and finds Idah - he goes down in the box but it’s no foul, no penalty. Well inside the final ten now and it’s getting fractious.
Bajrami beats his man in the box at the opposite end of the pitch and wallops in a shot but only finds the side netting.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments